California maintains eight urban search-and-rescue teams as part of a federal disaster response system. They are self-contained units — traveling in truck convoys with food, fuel and rescue supplies, including boats.

When not deployed, most of the members work in neighborhood fire stations across the state.

Even as an intense wildfire season has strained California’s firefighting forces, all of the teams were tapped to help out in Texas.

Four of those — from San Diego, Los Angeles, Menlo Park and Oakland — were subsequently deployed to Florida, said Brad Alexander, spokesman for the California Office of Emergency Services.

California Task Force 1 was on the road home from Houston, where they logged more than 50 rescues, when they got the call to turn around, said Mr. Calvillo.

Four days and more than 1,700 miles later, on Saturday, they were at a staging area in Orlando.

The task force’s members spent the weekend gearing up for what could be a vast rescue effort. At one point, they passed around pictures of the devastation Hurricane Andrew left Florida with 25 years ago.

They wanted to get a sense of what, exactly, could happen in the state.

The team has been touched by the many of the encounters they’ve had since leaving home, said Brian Humphrey, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Cars pulled out of line at gas stations to let them fuel up first. On the road, they were given free meals from well-wishers, including a fire station in Midland, Tex., and a local contractor in Addison, Tex.

“It was just really neat to see what people did — little things,” said Mr. Humphrey. “And little things just mean so much.”

Sam Hodgson, a photographer for The New York Times, has been embedded with the team in Orlando.

A few of his photos from over the weekend:

Photo

Members of California Task Force 1 worked late on Saturday preparing for the approaching storm.Credit Sam Hodgson for The New York Times Photo

Team members went over logistics. They were sent to Orlando immediately after their deployment to Houston.Credit Sam Hodgson for The New York Times Photo

California Task Force 1 members organized palettes of supplies at a convention center in Orlando on Sunday.Credit Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

Alan Blinder contributed reporting from Orlando.

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California Online

(Please note: We regularly highlight articles on sites that have limited access for nonsubscribers.)

• California is moving to reschedule its presidential primary date from June to March. It has the potential to upend the 2020 nominating contest. [Politico]

• Lawmakers are pushing a plan that requires California to get all of its energy from renewable sources by 2045. Is that even possible? [KQED]

Photo

An aerial view of a marijuana farm in Mendocino County. Environmental damage and crime associated with illegal cannabis businesses remain firmly entrenched in the area.Credit Jim Wilson/The New York Times

• The black market for marijuana in California is thriving as growers shun the legalized system that comes into effect in January. [The New York Times]

• A magnitude 8.2 earthquake killed dozens of people in Mexico. If a quake of similar power hit Southern California — and it could — it would be catastrophic. [Los Angeles Times]

• A backlash grew after a video circulated online that appeared to show a University of California police officer in Berkeley ticketing a hot dog vendor then taking money from his wallet. [Berkeleyside]

Photo

Jake Paul has more than 10 million subscribers on YouTube.Credit Jake Michaels for The New York Times

• Jake Paul, the 20-year-old YouTube megastar, is mining a summer of controversy to build a social media empire. [The New York Times]

• Women at Google make less than men, according to an employee-compiled spreadsheet. Google begs to differ. [The New York Times]